Car taken to Dealership, Burns up 3 days later. Help Please!

[DraconianAC]

What is the name of your state? California

Hello,

I was just notified by my family that 2 weeks ago my uncle's car burned up three days after being taken into the dealership. He doesn't know what to do, but what I know is that he took it in for original maitenance to the same dealership he has always taken it to. He asked them to check for a strange noise the car was doing on ingnition. That was a saturday. He picked it up on the same day and drove it home, used it Monday, Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the car's engine catches fire on the way to work. Take in mind that his work is like 7 minutes away/ 5 miles away from the house--at most. Now the dealership is going to charge him for all the repairs and they don't want to take resposibility.

The model of the car is a 1998 Toyota Corolla.

Please help me figure out if he needs legal help for this. I just feel that there is something wrong and the dealership should pay for what happened to him. Thanks in advance.What is the name of your state?

 

[JETX]

Please help me figure out if he needs legal help for this. I just feel that there is something wrong and the dealership should pay for what happened to him. Thanks in advance.

Your 'feelings' have nothing to do with this. How EXACTLY do you think the dealership was at fault??

 

[DraconianAC]

Though I'm very unexperience with legal matters, and my feelings may not have anything to do with the matter.

The fact that the car was fine before going into the dealership, (meaning it never had any serious problems) and less then 100 miles after driving it off the dealership, it catches fire from withing the engine. I can't tell you from where exactly because I wasn't there, but I can tell you that he tried turning the car off when he saw all the smoke, yet the car did not turn off and the smoke turned into fire that burned the whole engine area including the computer sensors and electrical wires. How does a dealership not take resposibilty for this? The car was taken in for a regular maitance check in which a serious of inspections are suppost to be preformed to make sure the car is running fine, and on top of that he asked for a minute problem to be checked. Maybe this helps explain the matter a bit more?

 

[JETX]

Maybe this helps explain the matter a bit more?

Let me make this simple for you....
What EXPERT EVIDENCE can your uncle present to court PROVING that the dealership was liable for the fire??
If the answer is 'none'... and only your 'feelings', he loses.
Do you understand that??

 

[DraconianAC]

What EXPERT EVIDENCE can your uncle present to court PROVING that the dealership was liable for the fire??

Actually, since like I said, I don't really know much about legal matters, I posted here so that I get some information on what can be done to maybe start at the right direction. When you ask for "EXPERT EVIDENCE," The only thing that comes to mind is proof of negligence by another car expert that has inspected the vehicle after the fire, yet the only people who have ever laid a mechanical hand on that car, is that dealership--even after the fire. My uncle has documentation of the service preformed and the milage the car was inspected before and after the fire. I don't know if thats enough to start some type of investigation or how to begin it to tell you the truth.

Let me make this simple for you...

It really doesn't make it simple, since I'm a novice in these matters, thats why I came here in the first place.

If the answer is 'none'... and only your 'feelings', he loses.
Do you understand that??

I got the hint after your first reply, but keep in mind that this isn't my car. I'm just trying to find information for my uncle so that I can advice him on what course he can take other than to eat the $2,000+ bill that the dealership is charging him now.

Oh, and by all means, I am not trying to be rude to you. If any of this sounds rude to you, please understand that I am greatful for any advice or help you can provide. Thankyou.

 

[JETX]

Oh, and by all means, I am not trying to be rude to you. If any of this sounds rude to you, please understand that I am greatful for any advice or help you can provide. Thankyou.

No problem.
Rudeness has nothing to do with it.
This is a LEGAL advice site and sometimes the law is 'hit you in the face' simple. Absent any REAL proof that the dealership was somehow liable (EXPERT TESTIMONY)... your uncle is SOL against them.
Does he have comprehensive insurance??

 

[DraconianAC]

Originally Posted by JETX
"This is a LEGAL advice site and sometimes the law is 'hit you in the face' simple."

And it hurts... Thank goodness its not me; I just feel bad for him, and my parents asked for my help because they think a CS mayor is also an expert in internet information gathering.

Originally Posted by JETX
"Absent any REAL proof that the dealership was somehow liable (EXPERT TESTIMONY)... your uncle is SOL against them."

I can't really think of any expert testimony he can produce. I was told all his co-workers at burtec aided in putting out the fire before the car exploded, and I don't think they count as expert testimonial witnesses.

Originally Posted by JETX
"Does he have comprehensive insurance??"

I don't really know, I guess I'll call my parents and ask. If he does, can he petition for the insurance to take care of the damages and repair?